Kimberly Akimbo, the Broadway hit that has captured audiences with its unique blend of heart and humor, has just started its first National Tour, starring Emily Koch as Debra and Jim Hogan as Buddy. Both actors were standbys in the original Broadway production, and now they are stepping into the spotlight, taking on lead roles in this acclaimed musical. As the show hits San Diego and other cities around the country, Koch and Hogan bring fresh energy to their characters while staying true to the spirit of the original performance.
In this interview, Koch and Hogan discussed the thrill of transitioning from standbys to leads, the differences between the Broadway and touring versions of the show, and the challenges of performing in different venues with varying conditions. They also shared their approaches to staying vocally and physically prepared on the road.
You guys just opened the show so how’s it going so far?
Emily Koch: It’s going so well. Like, we’re having a fabulous time. We were saying it’s going so well that we’re, like, suspicious. [laughter] That’s how it feels.
Jim Hogan: Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Emily Koch: Yeah, exactly. We’ve been around this business, so we were like, “People are happy? Oh, wow. This is great.”
Right. Hopefully, you’re not going to have a Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep moment from Only Murders in the Building anytime soon.
Emily Koch: Exactly.
I saw the show on Broadway, and I loved everything about it.
Emily Koch: We both saw it Off-Broadway before we were a part of it on Broadway, and I’ve literally never done this, but I was in the lobby of the theater after it finished and bought a ticket to see it again, still in the lobby of it.
Oh, wow. And both your roles are complete showcases. Jim, I would kill to play your role. It has to be so fun to walk out on stage every night and be these people.
Jim Hogan: Yeah. I mean, you said it yourself, we don’t get the chance to do this level of material very often, and so we do feel very, very lucky to be a part of this.
You guys were standbys in the original run?
Jim Hogan: Exactly. Standbys, yeah.
Did you have to re-audition for your roles?
Jim Hogan: Lucky for us, we did not.
Emily Koch: Yeah, we did not. I used to cover standby for the mom and the aunt, who I’m playing now. And we both were lucky to have, like, quite a handful of performances to go on. And I think knowing that the tour was coming, I think they probably just came and saw us, which is so nice because I mean, as an actor, that is not typical. I feel like you always have to re-audition for stuff, even if you’ve done it for years. And so, this was really luxurious that we didn’t have to.
I’ve never been a standby or understudy but just knowing me and how I am, I would be so rattled, every single day, thinking that the phone’s going to ring or I’m backstage and, “Hey, somebody just stubbed their toe. You gotta go on!” I mean, how do you guys prepare yourself for show days when you are standbys?
Jim Hogan: Well, that was the most interesting part of the Broadway experience for me. I’ve been an understudy plenty of times in my career, but I had never been an off-stage standby. So, like, we were going to the show every single day, six days a week, and there were many weeks that would just go by where we were just not in the show. And so, every day you show up and you have no idea what you’re going to do. And you can watch the show as many times as you want, but until you’re like really in it, it’s a fascinating experience.
And so there would be days where you’d show up, and you would just kind of hang out, and enjoy the show from backstage. And then there would be other days where you’d get a 20–30-minute notice. And so, it was kind of crazy in that regard.
Emily Koch: Yeah. I feel like it’s always in the back of your mind a little bit. Like, from the second you wake up, that you could potentially lead a musical that day. But you can’t completely live your life like that because that would also make you totally insane.
It’s like a very delicate balance of finding moderation in your day. I feel like that’s the skill that it gets you really good at, because if you’re thinking that you’re going to do the show every single night, you’re going to drive yourself nuts. So, I feel like I always was like, “I’ll do a little vocal check-in. I’ll go to the gym, get myself ready.” But then, I’ll go about my day.
What’s the quickest you’ve been told to get on stage?
Emily Koch: In any show?
Sure.
Emily Koch: So, it’s so funny. I’ve done this from both sides because I started as an Elphaba standby in Wicked, but then I took over as Elphaba. So, I have, both, gone in, in the middle of the show, and called out in the middle of the show.
So, I’ve seen it from both sides, and I feel like that’s a particularly weird one because you have to get fully green or fully de-greened. So, I feel like that’s like one-minute notice, and then you’re thrown on out there. And I feel terrible that I had to do that to someone once as well. But that’s live theater.
Watching the original actors in the show, like you guys did all the time, I’m sure, did you guys take anything from their performances that you’re bringing to yours? I would think through just pure osmosis that some things seeped into your body.
Emily Koch: Oh, so much.
Jim Hogan: A 100%. Yeah.
Emily Koch: I mean, as you know, having seen it, they were a truly incredible cast across the board, some of the best performances I’ve ever seen, just period. So, I feel like what we’re doing now, is so like in homage of them, and like, because they were so themselves, we feel really free to be ourselves in our performances.
And sometimes there is just one way to say a line, and I’m like, “Bonnie Milligan said that right. And I’m gonna say it that way.” And then, there’s times where I’m like, “She was so herself here. I can trust to be myself here.” And having people that were that individual, is so inspiring to be your own individual.
Jim Hogan: And we’re also very fortunate to be working with the original creative team, day in and day out, so we can approach things, and ask questions, and go up to Jesse Stone, our fantastic director, and just be like, “Hey, this is how it was done. This is how I’m seeing it. Blah, blah, blah.” And you can kind of meet in the middle. And it’s been a really great experience in that way.
You guys are working with the original director?
Emily Koch: Yeah. David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori. Danny Medford. It is spectacular. All the original associates, all the people you want in the room have been there and it’s been so cool. And especially as theater fans, we’re like, “These people are in the room with us? This is crazy.” Yeah.
How do you guys, health-wise, stay prepared, with your voice? Especially, traveling to different parts of the country with different altitudes, since I know you’re in Denver now.
Emily Koch: That’s definitely an adjustment. We we’re lucky that we have toured before, so I feel like the second we landed in Denver, we were like, “Okay, we gotta hit the treadmill.” Like we know that, to acclimate.
But honestly, we’re pretty simple. We try to eat well, sleep a lot, and drink a lot of water, and add things in if we’re feeling sick. But we try not to rely on too much because I feel like that puts me really in my head, if I’m like, “I have to do 50 things before I sing.” I’m like, “No.” I just sing, and then we can go from there.
Are there any either major or even minor differences between the show that I saw and what you’re bringing here to San Diego?
Jim Hogan: There are plenty of differences. We have some new staging elements, some new choreography elements, some new set design elements. So, if you are a fan of the show from Broadway, you will love enjoying these new experiences. And if you’re seeing it for the first time, I think you’ll enjoy it just as much. It’s been really cool for us to have been a part of both productions.
Emily Koch: Some of the set pieces are switched on what sides of the stage they’re on.
Jim Hogan: There’s some mirroring involved.
Emily Koch: Some mirroring because of how they’ve, kind of, jewel boxed this into fitting into a traveling set. So that was really interesting at first and kind of like a, “Oh wait, I have to enter over here.” And then, I will say, that Deborah is skating in this one and she did not skate in the other.
Well, now I really can’t wait to see the show again.
Jim Hogan: That’s the best part of it, you get these huge laughs, and you have these really bittersweet, beautiful moments. For me at least, it’s kind of everything you want in a musical theater experience.
Kimberly Akimbo is currently playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre. For more info and tickets: Broadway San Diego
